‘Outstanding Star’ Vera Wins Regional Care Award

An experienced nurse manager has scooped a top regional care award for her consistent approach, outstanding clinical knowledge and kind personality.

Vera Almeida, Clinical Lead at Colten Care’s Bourne View care home in Poole, was named Care Home Worker of the Year at the Bournemouth Daily Echo Proud to Care Awards 2019.

Readers of the newspaper sent in hundreds of nominations across 13 community care categories recognising staff, volunteers, residential and nursing care homes, home care providers and specialist care givers.

A shortlist of three finalists for each category was decided by a panel of judges ahead of a final winner being picked.

Vera said she was ‘surprised and delighted’ to hear her name read out at the awards ceremony at Bournemouth’s Marsham Court Hotel.

She was quick to praise Colten Care, her colleagues and residents, saying: “This award is a reflection of the amazing team I work with and all the support I have had from Colten Care over the years. It’s also about the amazing residents who help us all to keep going and feel motivated.”

Vera’s citation highlighted her knowledge, dedication and personality, explaining: “Vera is consistent in her approach to both residents and the staff she works with. Her clinical knowledge is outstanding, gained through her studies in her native Azores and working both in the NHS and in the private care sector. Vera has worked for Colten Care for nearly three years, starting as a Senior Nurse and within a year being promoted to Clinical Lead, currently commissioning Colten’s new home Bourne View. A recent respite resident at Bourne View described her as a star and stated that she trusted her judgement implicitly. Vera has a lovely persona. She is calm, friendly and kind. She is 100% dedicated to her role and is a role model to all of the staff working with her and an excellent mentor.”

Colten Care Operations Director, Elaine Farrer, said: “Congratulations to Vera on a much deserved award. Such external recognition is not only a personal success to be prized and valued, but yet another vote of confidence in the high standards of clinical leadership in our nursing homes.”